We humans are creatures of habit. We do the same things day in and day out. So, why do our energy bills fluctuate so much throughout the year? Understanding how we consume energy in our home and which key drivers impact our energy usage is the first step to energy efficiency and lower bills.
The biggest driver is weather. Weather affects your energy bill more than any other factor.
Let’s look at an actual home in the winter and summer (see nearby charts). During winter months when the weather turns colder, we use more energy. When the outdoor temperatures is warmer (in the mind-40s) during winter, energy consumption drops.
During the summer months, that same home follows the exact same trends. When it’s hotter, we use more energy.
According to the nearby pie chart, about half of your typical monthly energy consumption is heating and cooling. Of that half, 42% comes from heating with only 6% from cooling.
The difference in heating versus cooling is due to the difference in temperature between inside and outside. If I want my house to be 70 degrees inside and it’s 20 degrees outside, my heating system has to make up 50 degrees difference in temperature. Even on a 100 degree summer day, the cooling system only has to make up about 30 degrees difference versus that 50 degree variance in winter.
Regardless of whether you heat your home with electric or gas, it’s all energy consumption that you’re paying for. So, how do we reduce Mother Nature’s impact to save energy and lower our energy bills?
The best tip I can offer is to take advantage of Tipmont’s FREE, in-home energy assessment. Our energy adviser will come to your house and give you a complete assessment of where your efficiency opportunities are.
At the end of the assessment, you’ll receive a custom report detailing the steps you can take to save on your energy bills. Call our office at 800-726-3953 today to schedule your free assessment.
As a non-profit electric cooperative, Tipmont’s goal is to sell you the least amount of energy that you actually need. We don’t pocket more profit if we sell more energy. Our only profit is your satisfaction.
